Electrically controlled tiltable reflecting mirror device



May l2, 1953 vW. D. MACGEORGE EVAL ELECTRICALLY 'CONTROLLED TILTABLEREFLECTING MIRROR DEVICE 4 Filed Jan. 29 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l //7 3/,ya /f/ /20 May 12, 1953 w. D. MACGRGE ETAL 2,638,035

ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED TILTABLE REFLECTING MIRROR DEVICE Filed Jan. 29,1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wz'llaam Ma carie ATTORNEY Patented May 12, 17953ELECTRICLLY CONTROLLED TILTABLE REFLECTING MIRROR DEVICE William D.Macgeorge, Collegeville, and Charles E. Roessler, Jr., Philadelphia,Pa., assignors to Automatic Temperature Control Co.,

Inc.,

Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsyl- Vania Application January29, 1951, Serial No. 208,389

5 Claims. (Cl. 88-92) This invention relates to electrically controlledtiltable devices for securing plural predetermined angular positioningsof an element, and constitutes a continuation-in-part of applicationSerial Number 19,486, filed April 7, 1948, now Patent No. 2,599,005.

' In said application there was disclosed a plural scale indicator bywhich an optical system was provided incorporating a reiiector devicesusceptible to the assumption of a plurality of relatively diierentangular positions, with a rigid, stable, and non-vibratory support forthe reilecting surface in each of the plurality oi positions orattitudes, and which angular dispositions were controlled by a pluralityof electromagnetic means in conjunction with a spring bias.

t is among the objects of this invention to provide an element withelectro-magnetic controls by which the element is rigidly held in aplurality of different angular positions; to improve the art of optics;to improve the art of relays; to combine a reflector and a relay withmeans whereby simultaneously the reflector and relay occupy relatedcoordinated positions, and by which simultaneously the angular positionof the reflector can be changed with changes of the settings of therelay; to improve tilting devices; and to provide other objects andadvantages as will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

In carrying out the invention in an illustrative form, a movable tiltingelement, which may comprise a reflector or a' relay arm or both, orwhich may actuate any desired device, is mounted in a stable andinstantaneously rigid position inA one normal angular attitude on aprimary support, such as spaced supporting elements having eiectiveedges against which it is biased, and electro-magnetic means areprovided by which selectively the tilting element can be swung on theprimary support, to engagement with a selected one of two secondarysupports spaced from the pivotalprimary support to assume a newpredetermined different and secondary angular attitude in stableinstantaneously rigid support at such secondary attitudes, and whereinrelease from either secondary attitude is automatically followed byresumption of the normal attitude in stable support.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive are taken from said patent application Ser. No.19,486. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a fragmentary side elevation of a portion oi anoptical system showing one form of the invention in side elevation withthe electro-magnets removed for clarity.

Fig. 2 represents a top plan of the optical system portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a transverse section through the reflector assembly ofFig. 1, taken below the reflector itself, in one normal angular relationon its rigid support.

Fig. 4 represents a section similar to that of Fig. 3, through thereiiector assembly in a second predetermined angular relation under theinfiuence oi' an energized electro-magnet.

Figs. 5 and 6 represent details of the knife edge units of the renectorassembly, as disclosed in said patent application.

Fig. 7 represents a fragmentary wiring diagram of the circuitscontrolling the electromagnetic units of the tilting assembly of theinventon.

rig. 8 represents a side elevation of the inventlon applied to relays.

Fig. 9 represents a front elevation of the same, with the relay shown asa double throw, double pole relay with neither pole energized.

Fig. l0 represents a plan of the same.

Fig. 11 represents a side elevation of the same from the other side fromFig. 8.

Fig. l2 represents a front elevation of same with one pole of the doublepole relay in contacting position coincident with attainment of onepredetermined angular positioning or attitude of the movable element.

Fig. 13 represents the same with the other pole of the relay incontacting position coincident with attainment of another predeterminedangular positioning or attitude of the movable element, shown partiallyin section to illustrate details.

Fig. 14 represents a plan of the relay device of Fig. 10 mounting areflector for simultaneous relay and reiiector actuation and control.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 7, a plural position, shown, illustratively, asa three position, tilting device, mounting a reflector or mirror 2D isprovided, having a plurality of electro-magnets, illustratively two,respectively 2| and 22, each controlling one angular position of tiltingdevice and thus of the mirror 20, the coils of which magnets areselectively energized by the switches 23 and 24 of Fig. 7, or by anyother desired system. On a supporting frame 51, an optical projecting orfocussing element 58 of the optical system is mounted to project thevisual intelligence it is desired to reflect from the mirror 2i). Frame5l is reinforced by the flanged web 55 and supports the rigid compoundbracket comprised of the forward lug 59 and the rearward, transverselyextending,Y magnet. supports 60 and 6.1i, upon which the respective:magnets-L 2| and 22 are rigidly supported. The bracket 59 and arms iii)and 6! are substantially integral: with a multiple pivot stationaryhousing comprising a front plate lil terminating laterally in thevertically extending horizontallyfspaoe'd rear;- wardly directed knifeedges. respectively 62: and.v 63, evenly spaced on each side.- of themedian.. line of the reflector unit, and. having.- upper: and lowerrearwardly extending." paralleli plates: or.' lugs B4 and 65respectively. This last unit forms a substantially or eiectively square.box,A the.l upper and lower lugs or plates of which form vertical guidestops for the plate to be described,

and the lateral edges f which form pivot lines forthe.v said. plate..

The: mirror 21a-isf. firmly mountedon a tiltabley supporting, assemblyof. arear. plate. ofi. general-- ly inverted 'l1 formationhaving. theupper mir-- ron mounting portion. 5i-` and; the crosspiece forminglateral plates of magnetic material 6.1 andi. 68 juxtaposed to.l andiaffected. by the respective electro-magnets when. the latter areenergizedi. On the-frontofl the: T-shaped plate a pivot plate isrmlyattached, having. up

per. and lower" parallel. horizontal surfacesv of such; vertical.-spacing as to.- slide between. the: plates; or lugs-v Gliand. 65 toAlimit the. relative. Vertical movements-of the T plate. in eitherdirection,. and! provided: with. parallel vertical horizontally spacednotches-.11i and 12. A pin. 'I3 is anchored in the 'l'.` pla-ter and thepivot plate, and extends. through the. enlargedaperture- 1.41 in-` the.rocking. or tiltable: housing 49, andi connected-.resiliently bytens-ion spring 'I5 to the xed lug 59. It will be seen tha-tuen!-ergzation' of the electroemagnet 2 I. will1pull the adjacent ear orplate portion 61 toward. itself. to a=- rig-idmstomin. this casepart.ofthe electromagnet. assembly., oa-usinglr the. 'l'. plate.- toroekabout knifeiedge- S2. in. socket. recess 'H as;- a. pivot. This..causes therecess` l2.. to pull away from its stationary, knife.l edgeB3.- to4 effect an angular change of-z mirror.` position.. to. afixedstable secondary.l .position in. moving.. clockwise about the-.-operative fixedA pivot: 62... This.- soci-- onda-ny. .stable position,is on: two spaced supports, one. ofy which is.v edge. 62. retained.under the spring bias; the.- ot-her of which. are come plemental.lportions-of.. magnet. 2-.l-. and arm. 61. On. the other. hand, releaseof the.electro-mag..-1 net. 2l.` will releasethe T pla-te.- to.` permit.the. tilting- ..frame-and thus:v the mirror to: swing counterclockwise.about the. pivot. edge 62 until. both knife edges are engaged by theirrespective: notches, when. the. mirror will. be. heldv rigidly andstably. in..its. mid-position. under the; bias of spring Fromthislatter.y position, asA will-.be clear and as: shown in Fig. 4,-.energizationof the electro-magnet.. 2-2 will. cause.- attraction.. of:the-magnetic.V plate portionA 68 to swing,V the .mir-- ror-"mounting:assembly counter-elock-wisey about. the-.k-nife. edge 63, withpositivestormed-.abut-A ment against. the mag-net..r so.v thatv the mirror is.`rig-idly: and., stably mounted. at-` a cocked. angle between two.horizontally. spaced stops. There wille be an automatic, subsequentclockwisel movement.. of; the. mimo-mounting.. assembly: uponde-energization. of the electro-magnet. 2.2. tosrigidly.. and. stably.support. the mirror ina normal attitude on two horizontally spaced stopsagainst which it is held by the tension spring 15. The accuracy andstability and freedom from response to vibrations attained by thevutilization of the.A spaced. pivotsl and the rest. of thezrocling,assembly will bee-evident.

In the form of the invention of the Figs. 8 to lef inclusive, the sameprinciples are involved, although certain ofthe parts are reversed forreduced costs andefciency. In the preferred embodiment of the relay, thesame three p0- sitions.. ofiY a movable.N or tiltable member arecontemplated asl with the reflector, although here; .as' with the..reflector type, it will be underst'o'odi that. by suitable multiples ofplates,

spaced supporting' members and additional electromagnetic..means,. fiveor even seven positions of the controlling ultimately tiltablememberfcan be effected. The relay of these gures is typical of a deviceor mechanism actuated: or controlled.v by thebasic. three lpositiontiltable element.

Member 895, which is gener-ally.y horizontal-lyl disposed, has a.central aperture: i3-lV loosely enr gaging the-reducedshankv 82v4 of:the vertical -stud 83, and is biased axially of: the: shank, bythe..compression spr-ing., 84.- engaged between the. upper surfaceA ot member89. anda ari-.anchoring collar 85.011, shank. 82.. Thestud-83isz mountedrigidly upon the.. connect-ing. stripA 81 of. aa U- shaped piece,`having, the vertically upstandin'g., generally parallel spaced. legs.and allfspaced. evenly on. both. sides. of. the. stud.. The upper'terminal edgesv 9..I--9.l of legs, kand- 9i) may be. relatively angular`as. shownton may bev tapered-l.- toward. knife edges, it desiredtbviouslyg,i theyA may comprise spaced engaging points in align ment.;hence,A these andv those of. theearlier" gures are: referred to.Vhereinafter as. eiectiye edges. TheA member till. is..f'orced. by .thebiasfof.' the spring. to.l engage both-l `eitectiveA terminal. edges4Sl-Sl of. therespectiye. legs, upon4 a.- rigid; and stable support.formed thereby, toA maine tain. the; member. 80 in. a. normal.horizontaldis-- position comprising., .itslattitude in-A space.. The.:U.shaped member and' stud-v 83` are. rigidly mounted) on a. framemember912. having' the-.lateeral.v upstanding flange 93).. A-v relatively`short angle element. 94' is. mountedy on'. the flange. 93,.

, having. a horizontal` portion 95. t'oA mount the contact assembly ofthe relay? or; any other. mechanism toI be.. `actuated .orv controllednby' the tiltable-.- element.- Bill.. Ereferably the.v frame. v92. isr`mounted` on. vertical.. studs. .96 and':9.1- extending; from the.lower..v surfaceA which` engage a plate: `l 00.; mounting, a. pl-ugrinidevice` |04" for. mounting.- the: relayassembly in.. 'a plugein. socket.device-.- car-- rying the. relay lead's. Plug-in device l'-lhas-fmaleprong:v elements. electrically connected* tolthe relay contactmembers-.ifr-desired, as'. wellra'sl those4 leading to therespectiveelectro-magnete to. be described.` Alterna-tively,thelcontrolrcir cuit leads.` may have. .direct connections with the:-relay elements.

Mounted. on.- the upper: surface. of. the. fra-mee- 9.2. arer the. twovertically extending. parallel. spaced;

electro.-magnetsYI 2t' and.f 22.', dis-posed. beneath.. the. `member 8G.on opposite s-ides1of1the blpiece..

spaced. from. the: respectivelegs thereof. Bret-- er-.ablyl the: upper'ends et. the electro-magnetsyr 21|! and 22' have upper stop membersrespectively-v 1112 and H03, in registration respectivelywith abutment.plug-suor thelike Ilm-.arid` L05 on tiltable-.element 86; Itwill be seenthat from.the-.neutralior.` normal horizontal position of Fig. 9,actuation-.ort

energization of electro-magnet 22 will exert a pull on the contiguousportion of member 80, to snap it out of its symmetrical seating on botheffective leg edges 9|, into rigid stable mounting on the edge 9| of leg90 for one support, and with the abutment member |05 rigidly engagingstop |03 for the complemental support, in stably and rigidly holding themember in a secondary inclined position or attitude, shown in Fig. 12,aided by the bias of spring 84. Opening of the circuit throughelectro-magnet 22 will release its attraction on member 80, whi-ch willthen move sharply into its symmetrical horizontal disposition of Fig. 9under the influence of the bias of spring 84. On the other hand, fromthis latter position, it will be clear that energization of magnet 2 Iwill snap the member 80 into another secondary inclined position in astable two point support, one of which comprises effective edge 9| ofleg 88 and the other of which is comprised of abutment means |04 and|02. In either case of the secondary inclined attitude the turning ofmember 8|! is about an edge 9|, and the clearance of aperture 8| onshank 82 is proper to permit this. In this -connection it will also beunderstood that the nature and diameter of spring 84 is such as toimpose restoring bias on member operative when the magnetic flux isinterrupted to restore the member to its horizontal position.

The member 80 at one end carries an upstanding ange ||0, to which acontact-controlling or like mechanism actuating plate is secured,extending transversely beyond the member 80. An insulating block ||2 ismounted on the supporting surface 95 toward one end of the assembly andmay comprise insulating laminations, and three resilient contact armsare insulatedly mounted therein. These comprise an upper arm ||3, thefree outer end of which mounts a downwardly presenting contact ||4, alower resilient arm l5, the free outer end of which mounts the upwardlypresenting contact V| I6, and the median elongated resilient arm thefree end of which has a double contact ||8 in such position asselectively to engage and make contact with either contact |I4 or ||6.In the normal unstressed condition of arm |1, all contacts aredisengaged. The median arm is extended longitudinally beyond the doublecontact |8 into a terminal end |20 tted into a horizontal slot 2| in theoverhanging lateral extension of the plate As shown in Figs. 9, 10 and14, soldering terminals |22, |23 and |24 are mounted in electricalcontact with the arms ||3, and I1 respectively. 'Ihese are removed fromthe other figures for clarity. These terminals are wired to the circuitscontrolled by the relay, of Which the intermediate terminal is common toboth circuits.

It will be seen, as shown in Fig. 9, that with no currents in eitherelectro-magnet and the member 80 in a horizontal position, the mediancontact arm is unflexed and makes contact with neither contact H or H6,whereas movement of member B0 to either inclined position iiexes the end|20 of extended resilient arm so as to engage either contact I4 or IISwith double contact ||8, depending upon the sense of the flexing. Forcompound use the device of Fig. 14 both oscillates the reiiector 20 andalso controls the circuits through the relay in a related sense.

It will be clear that many changes and modifications can be made in theinvention without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, thespaced effective edges need not be on spaced legs, they may, underproper circumstances, be the side edges of a solid block. Similarly, thesecondary support means need not be mounted on or a part of theelectro-magnets, and they may be mounted on either side of the magnetswith reference to the primary support. Finally, it will be understoodthat although two electromagnets are preferred, mounted substantially asdisclosed, it will be understood that they may be diirerently disposedand they may comprise a single unit. For instance, it will be seen thatif the energizing source for either magnet shown is D. C., which iscontemplated as Well as the A. C. indicated, mere reversal of thepolarity of either energizing magnet will alternately attract or repelthe contiguous magnetic portion of the tiltable frame, so that a singlemagnetic means may be used to secure the three attitude control of thetiltable element.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In optical systems, a primary support, two secondary supports, atilting device mounted on the primary support, light reflective meansmounted rigidly on the device for exposure to a projected lightbeamhaving a substantially fixed average median line of projection meansbiasing the tilting device toward said primary support to eiTect stablesupport of said tilting device and light reflective means in twomutually normal dimensions of the latter on the primary support out ofcontact with the secondary supports, in one attitude in space relativeto such beam, whereby a primary reiiection of such beam has an averagemedian line fixed in space, electro-magnetic means cooperating with thetilting device and with the biasing means to effect two alternativesecondary stable supports oi" the tilting device on the primary supportstable in the same said two mutually normal dimensions of the lightreflective means and the alternatively selected secondary supports, intwo respective predetermined attitudes in space angulally divergent fromeach other and from the said one attitude, whereby each secondaryreiiection of such beam has an average median line xed in space and eachlies in a plane common with the average median line of said primaryreflection and the other secondary reiiection.r

2. 1n optical systems in combination, means for projecting a light beamhaving an average median line of projection substantially xed in space,a support and tilta'ole means in juxtaposition and each comprising tothe other a complemental element, light reiiective means rigidly mountedon one element and disposed in the path of said light beam rst andsecond support means comprising spaced effective edges on one elementand surfaces respectively complementary thereto en the other element,means biasing one element toward the other to eiect a normal stablesupport of one element on the other and thus a xed relation of thereiiective means to said projected beam with both effective edgesengaging their respective complemental surfaces, said beam having anangle of incidence against said light reective means inclined to theperpendicular in said normal stable support condition and establishing aprimary reflection having an average median line, rst and secondauxiliary support means each comprising complemental portions mounted onthe respective elements spaced from and respectively on opposite sidesof said edges in the line of spacing thereof, said portions of eachauxiliary support means being spaced apart during said normal stablesupport, a rst and a second 1" electrosmagnetmounted.respectively'on,one elef' ment adjacent toK arespective auxiliary support meanslan'iniopeiativa uxtapositionfto 'thzezotlrei' element `sotlaat whenrespectiyelyenergized one element -tmrnsv about'ronev effective ecgeandi-eloses the space between. theportons. of. the auxiliary'supportimeansfaoljacent theiceto toiestaloli'shaonda-systablessupportzon said-onefelementonsaidf one: effective. edgeand; said; auxiliary support means'rat whichy the angular? relation Aofisaic'll.rei nectivfe means isv piedetenmimedly cli'am'gedfxielam timelsatl` beam 'oneiditrection o to"-'esteibz lisli a-rseoondary reflection:of said?y earn` having an ave-sage median :lmefangwlariy displaced ffomithat of tiiexprimary: feeetion. while lyng'firf ai eohfm'fron. plaise.containingftlie Incolla-nr.v linefol 'they primafy reilection';`

reflectors, a.;1fe1atilvely-1ixedsupport; plate: means having areflecting surface', twofirfsts'set's oi ce1-impl'semental supportingelements disposed between* sopporta vsaid plate, said sets Uelngfspaceiiiiion dimension .ofthe plate means, aseos-mda@ seasoningeieng'entzslisposed loew/eeny tl-xelpiate'meam and-ther fixedsupportandl-ilncor'- oonsltmg fspa'ce, meanslsiasingtm platetowsmtheme-first sets of supportingele merits-to establish: a@ifedeteiminsel7 angular rela tiem @time plate.I to' tneLxed-fsupporft,and meansve' to* lit .the plate about oneoftli'e firstl setsofrfcomplemerital rriembei's as a pivot: While maintairiingsameasoierplatemeans support and toa-absorb the i'ostmotion. spacey of? thesecondary snippet-ting; element. to fili-'msn a secondi supportbetifs/eemy ith'efplate and'tl're fixed' supper-t1"at` which the` saicl.predetermined angle; of' the plate" is slaiftedttoza second.pie'rleteirfiine'd' angle th'ei-'e'ol relative-to saint fixed Support,

In eilectors, relatively listed support, a plateavmg.-

ivelectifng' surface, a rst set ol compriamo-titels' contact.vdisguisedL between f,

tlselplatexfa d. tlile-fs'ppoiftf, asecond set of com plementa spacedfiomtherst set-1 irsw ae-'imerision of. they plate, means biasing the:plate towami: the' soppoitl tof no'ionfrallyy cause en ,sagement 'of'both sets of. comple eritacot'actmeans to :establish 'a given. amg-utacrelation' otplate Aand amd plate and?! stuciaort,1 said. electromagneticmeanslueirrgi' respectively operable uponenergization.. to mote theplate-about,thefadjacent setiofn complemarital contact means asta `pivotto simultane- 1 ouslfy seiaifateftlie otlielffset oi complementalcori:-l

'l appreciable extent transi/"eif'selyy of the Vwings' spaoe'd theextent l'of` the Wings sofas gid' suo'pzft: fior the plate when bothgagged, means operative'- lbe'tw-e'e the plate andi-support in the spacebetween theretadjacent set of supporting elements to smilltari ouslyfseparate the oth-ei set' and' close' said instant 'isceiipoiated spaceto establish a rigid support 'for plate between 'ther selected wing'-aml the support at a different `angle for the' n plate relatweftothesupport. f

WLIIFAMD.' MACGEORG.

E. ROES'SLER, vJ 1i',

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